David Norton was born around 1800 in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England, to Richard Norton and Hannah Unknown. He was convicted of housebreaking on 20 March 1828 and sentenced to life transportation to Australia. His crime occurred in Shropshire, where, at the time of his conviction, he was working as a blacksmith. After departing from London on 20 July 1828 aboard the ship Manlius, he arrived in Hobart on 9 November 1828, and by 1830 was assigned to John Sherwin as a blacksmith on the property, Sherwood. In 1836, David was granted a Ticket of Leave, and by 1841, he had received a Conditional Pardon. During this time, he married Eleanor Lewis in Hamilton on 17 March 1838. Eleanor was convicted of larceny at the Old Bailey Court in London on 10 January 1828 and sentenced to 14 years transportation. By 1844, David had acquired land in Dennistoun Road, receiving a land grant for the property measuring just over one and a half acres, where he operated his blacksmith shop. Eleanor died on 10 May 1854 in Hobart at the age of 53. In 1866, David, aged 66, married Caroline Driscoll, a 64-year-old spinster, at St Luke's Church, Bothwell. In 1857, he was charged with aggravated assault, for which he was fined. In 1866, he was involved in a violent altercation with his nephew, Richard Norton, who worked for him. David was convicted of wounding with intent and sentenced to 12 months in prison. The assault stemmed from a dispute over wages, with Richard accusing David of striking him with an axe after a heated argument. Despite these issues, David continued to live in Bothwell, where he was known for his community involvement. He served as a juror in several inquests, participated in petitions, and made donations to local causes. David died on 2 May 1879 at the Brickfields Pauper Establishment in Hobart. He was buried at Cornelian Bay Cemetery. His wife, Caroline, survived him, passing away in 1882.

DAVID NORTON, son of Richard Norton and Sarah Unknown.

Born: abt 1800, West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England.

Baptised: 19 Oct 1800, West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England.

Convicted: 20 Mar 1828, Shropshire, England; housebreaking, sentenced to life transportation.

Departed: 20 Jul 1828, London, England; on board the Manlius.

Arrived: 9 Nov 1828, Hobart, Van Diemen’s Land, Australia.

Muster: 1830, Sherwood, Bothwell; attended, blacksmith, assigned to John Sherwin.

Muster: 1832, Sherwood, Bothwell; attended, blacksmith, assigned to John Sherwin.

Charged: 26 Aug 1833, Sherwood, Bothwell; striking a servant woman and other misconduct.

Muster: 1 Nov 1833, Bothwell; attended.

Muster: 1835, Sherwood, Bothwell; attended, blacksmith, assigned to John Sherwin.

Ticket of Leave: 8 Dec 1836, approved.

Permission to Marry: 18 Dec 1837, Eleanor Lewis, approved.

Married (1): 17 Mar 1838, Eleanor Lewis, Hamilton; David; 38, bachelor; Eleanor: 37; witnesses: Marienne N Mayers, James Jess.

Advertisement: 25 Feb 1840, "Five Pounds Reward."

Conditional Pardon: 29 Jan 1841, approved.

Census: 1 Jan 1842, adjoining Bothwell township; owner, brick, completed, inhabited. Male, aged between 21 and under 45, married, free person, Church of England, mechanic/artificer.

Juror: 8 Feb 1844, Bothwell; inquest of James Absolom.

Conveyed: bef 12 Jun 1844, [25] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell; 1a 2r 27p from John Hunter Patterson; a deed has not been located.

Land Grant: 12 Jun 1844, [25] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell.

Land Grant: 25 Jul 1844, [25] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell; enrolled.

Conditional Pardon: Mar 1845, approved for Australian colonies.

Conditional Pardon: 26 Aug 1845, approved for any country except Europe.

Article: 15 Oct 1845, named under "Testimonial." Samuel Barrow.

Census: 1 Jan 1848, [25] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell; owner, wood, completed, inhabited. Male, aged between 45 and under 60, married, free person, Church of England, mechanic/artificer.

Article:  23 Oct 1849, named under "District of Bothwell."

Juror: 5 Oct 1850, [8] Crown Inn, Alexander St, Bothwell; inquest of John Kettlewell.

Article:  14 Sep 1853, named under "Petition, Police District of Bothwell."

Juror: 13 Feb 1855, [8] Crown Inn, Alexander St, Bothwell; inquest of William Brooks.

Donated: 18 Jun 1855, 10s to the Patriotic War Fund.

Charged: 30 Jun 1855, Lower Court, Bothwell; furiously ridden through the public streets.

Article:  21 Sep 1855, named under "Bothwell Road District."

Juror: 9 Oct 1855, [25] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell; qualified, blacksmith, nature of qualification: real & personal estate.

Article:  1 Apr 1856, named under "Bothwell." John Whitefoord.

Residence:  8 Apr 1856, [25] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell; freehold, house, blacksmith's shop.

Death Informant: 7 Jan 1857, Henry Norton, nephew.

Petition: 8 Aug 1857, Waste Lands 1857, signed, blacksmith.

Charged: 11 Aug 1857, Lower Court, Bothwell; aggravated assault.

Juror: 12 Jan 1858, [8] Crown Inn, Alexander St, Bothwell; inquest of Thomas Blackey.

Residence:  18 May 1858, [25] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell, TAS; owner, house, blacksmith's shop, annual rateable value £25.

Article: 25 Aug 1858, named under "Bothwell." Request a Public Meeting.

Donated: 6 Jul 1859, £1 to the Wesleyan Chapel Building Fund.

Article:  30 May 1861, named under "To Frederick Synnot, Esq."

Residence:  17 Nov 1863, [25] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell; owner, house, blacksmith's shop, annual rateable value £25.

Conveyed: before 6 Mar 1865, [25.3] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell; 2r 17p to John White & Simon Arnett; a deed has not been located.

Married (2): 13 Feb 1866, Caroline Driscoll, St Luke's Church, Bothwell; David: 66, widower; Caroline: 64, spinster; witnesses: Henry Craig, William Hughes.

Article: 26 Jul 1866, named under "Second Court." Assault.

Certificate of Title: 15 Mar 1870, [25.1] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell; registered, 1a 10p.

Mortgage: 2 Apr 1870, [25.1] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell; borrowed £25 from Simon Arnett.

Mortgage: 15 Sep 1873, [25.1] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell; discharged, £25 paid in full.

Advertisement: 13 Oct 1873, "To Let."

Conveyed: 22 Jun 1874, [25.2] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell; 29½p to Charles Kerr Ellis & eleven others, as Trustees of Good Templars.

Certificate of Title: 25 Aug 1874, [25.1] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell; registered, blacksmith, 3r 19½p.

Article: 29 Jan 1875, "Cumberland Election." Maurice Weston.

Article:  18 Dec 1876, named under "Acknowledgement." Henry C Hurst.

Residence:  30 Jan 1877, [25.1] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell; owner, house, annual rateable value £10.

Conveyed: 11 Oct 1877, [25.1] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell 3r 19½p to Simon Arnett for £60.

Residence:  19 Mar 1878, [25.1] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell; Simon Arnett (owner), house, annual rateable value £10.

Residence:  10 Sep 1878, [25.1] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell; Simon Arnett leased the property to David & Caroline Norton for the term of their natural lives.

Died: 2 May 1879, Brickfields Pauper Establishment, Hobart; aged 79, blacksmith, senility.

Buried: 5 May 1879, Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart.

Spouse (1) - ELEANOR LEWIS.

Born: abt 1801, place unknown.

Convicted: 10 Jan 1828, Old Bailey Court, London, England; larceny from the person, sentenced to 14 years’ transportation.

Departed: 17 Feb 1828, Woolwich, Kent, England, Mermaid.

Arrived: 27 Jun 1828, Hobart, Van Diemen’s Land, Australia.

Charged: 24 Jun 1831, Sherwood, Bothwell, TAS; disrespectful language.

Charged: 3 May 1834, Sherwood, Bothwell, TAS; proffering a charge against a fellow servant.

Permission to Marry: 18 Dec 1837, David Norton, approved.

Married: 17 Mar 1838, David Norton, Hamilton, TAS; David; 38, bachelor; Eleanor: 37; witnesses: Marienne N Mayers, James Jess.

Charged: 16 Feb 1839, Bothwell; drunkenness & disorderly conduct.

Charged: 8 Apr 1839, Bothwell; drunkenness & disorderly conduct.

Charged: 20 Jun 1839, Bothwell; drunkenness & disorderly conduct

Charged: 20 Mar 1841, Bothwell; breach of the peace.

Charged: 23 Apr 1842, Bothwell; drunk & making use of indecent language.

Charged: 1 Dec 1842, Bothwell; drunk & making use of indecent language.

Charged: 28 Sep 1844, Bothwell; misconduct.

Free Certificate: 1845, approved.

Charged: 7 Feb 1849, Lower Court, Bothwell; assaulted Mrs Fanny Gregory.

Charged: 7 Apr 1849, Lower Court, Bothwell; made use of indecent language.

Charged: 28 Aug 1849, Lower Court, Bothwell; drunk & made use of obscene language.

Charged: 21 Oct 1850, Lower Court, Bothwell; drunk in the public street.

Died: 10 May 1854, Hobart; aged 53, delirium tremens.

Spouse (2) - CAROLINE DRISCOLL.

Born: abt 1802, England.

Married: 13 Feb 1866, David Norton, St Luke's Church, Bothwell; David: 66, widower; Caroline: 64, spinster; witnesses: Henry Craig, William Hughes.

Residence:  26 Feb 1867, [25.1] Dennistoun Rd, Bothwell; David Norton (owner), house, blacksmith's shop, annual rateable value £20.

Died: 20 Feb 1882, Charitable Institution, New Town, aged 80, senility.

Buried: 22 Feb 1882, Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart.